Mustafa crowded out by URA and SCDF’s patriarchical approach
April 3rd, 2010 | 
Author: By Hurr Riyahi
Over the last year Mustafa has run into trouble with SCDF and URA regulations. SCDF is taking a court order to shut down part of Mustafa Centre for fire safety violations. URA took out a summons and the court has fined Mustafa $10K for supposedly using wholesale space for retail business. Is Mustafa a serious violator of regulations, displaying absolute disregard to authorities? In almost every news article by CNA, Straits Times and Today there is a repetition that Mustafa has chalked up 37 fire safety violations in past three years.
However the response by Mustafa to both SCDF and URA shows the shopping giant is indeed mindful of regulations but is caught in between the rising demand from shoppers and the inflexibility of SCDF and URA who are sticking by their patriarchical approach of doing their duties.
In the aftermath of URA shutting down Mustafa warehouse and issuing a sommons, the Mustafa founder said ‘We will definitely comply with the law. If we can’t sell things, we will continue with all other activities but stop sales of items,’ he said. He also explained then that the Mustafa warehouse was using a model of bulk purchasing and he did not feel it fell within the definition of retail business.
Nevertheless he also said at that time he will not contest the charges and instead work with URA to find out why is there is violation as he still felt he was not running a retail shop and strongly felt it was of a different nature. He explained that he rather work with URA, find a solution and focus on doing business than waste time contesting in court.
This more than clearly shows Mustafa’s commitment to want to try to satisfy all regulations. Obviously URA did not work with Mustafa to find a solution but instead pursued court action to which Mustafa pleaded guilty and was fined $10K.
What is funny is that Mustafa had explained that the Mustafa warehouse was opened chiefly to reduce the crowd size in their shopping centre in Little India. In an attempt to satisfy the regulations of SCDF they ran into trouble with URA regulations.
However the plight of Mustafa is an unique one. Mustafa’s security manager Shamim Ahmad had earlier said the large number of foreign workers and tourists who patronise the shopping centre during weekends make the controlling of access very difficult. controlling access to the 24-hour shopping centre is difficult because of the large number of tourists and foreign workers who come on weekends. His comments to local media that ‘It’s not like a cinema, this is a shopping centre…We are trying hard to come up with some solution’ clearly shows the desperation of Mustafa.
Both URA and SCDF have never a history of working in partnership with businesses to find solutions. Instead all they know is enforcement. To them the problem belongs to the businesses and the solution has to be found by the businesses. Such patriarchical approach by URA and SCDF leaves with no flexibility to deal with complex cases like Mustafa.
The real loser in this fiasco is not Mustafa. The shopping department can downsize or shut down their operations and move to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta or Dubai instantly. Already they own a shopping complex in Jakarta though they do not operate a department store there. Likewise they have some minimal operations in other ASEAN and South Asian countries as the family business has given priority to focus in Singapore.
Both URA and SCDF need to discard their patriarchical approaches. Though they may have within them the mechanisms for enforcement, they should develop within themselves other mechanisms to deal with business entities with Mustafa. SCDF can jointly work with Mustafa over a planned period of time to find solutions to the overcrowding. They can implement a series of strategies and jointly assess the effectiveness. This alternative approach makes more sense and provides a permanent solution than for SCDF going and checking Mustafa time and again and finding violations here and there.
URA should work with Mustafa and see how the warehouse can continue function without any violation of current rules. This too may take a period of 3-6 months to find a solution. Is URA capable to such flexibility and positive partnership? Or does it still want to stick by its patriachy baton?
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Is this because it is a competitor to the PAP’s NTUC fairprice? (whose chief is Lim Swee Say)
“However the plight of Mustafa is an unique one. Mustafa’s security manager Shamim Ahmad had earlier said the large number of foreign workers and tourists who patronise the shopping centre during weekends make the controlling of access very difficult. controlling access to the 24-hour shopping centre is difficult because of the large number of tourists and foreign workers who come on weekends.”
you need to edit this.
Funny, only Mustaffa was taken to tasks and fined for selling and storing goods along it’s pavements.NTUC shops all over Singapore have been doing it all along, and still doing it.
Yet, no charges!.
Different set of rules?
The writer implies that, for some unstated reason, Mustafa has been unfairly targeted by the SCDF and the URA. This is pure conjecture, and is contradicted by Mustafa’s own admission of culpability. The latter is a victim of its own success and has grumbled about its own failure to control access by large crowds, which is precisely the problem and which are infractions under the law.
Most of us would be very upset if the SCDF and the URA had adopted a more lenient approach. Failure to provide means of egress for rapid evacuation of shoppers in the event of a fire hazard or other similar emergencies must not be condoned. In this case, the authorities must be applauded for being proactive in taking steps to nip incipient disasters in the bud. To label their approach as patriarchal when they are clearly acting in the public interest is as inapt as it is silly. To suggest that they “can implement a series of strategies and jointly assess the effectiveness” is not only ridiculous but also contradictory: Mustafa is a profit-oriented entity with vast resources at its disposal and they do not require hand-holding aid from government agencies funded by taxpayers’ dollars.
Doesn’t this explain why Civil Servants do not have the strategic and business mindset? Many of them are paid hefty salaries without needing to think too much and simply follow instruction. They will cry foul if you want them to think out of the box. Whereas in private sector, there are many obstacles and considerations one needs to control and work with to bring about a successful business, something that public sector will not understand and will not want to understand. Such clear evidences were also regularly flashed in ST forum pages with standard and ambiguous template reply from many govt agencies instead of providing solutions to those in need of help.
I do not agree with this article.
The mall is really too crowded. It is a death trap. An accident waiting to happen. The authorities are doing the right thing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jG2XAyysGc
Why not go to court with the defence of “government-induced error”, which has been recognised in other common law countries like Canada. It would go something like this*:
“Your Honour, the defence submits that the alleged overcrowding is directly caused by the State’s own policy of allowing willy-nilly importation of foreign talent, who, comprising as they do all social strata and walks of life from cleaners to CEOs, are naturally drawn to the big range and small prices of goods at our humble store, which then becomes too crowded. Had the resident population been limited to what it was when our store was built, there would not have been such overcrowding.
The defence moves to dismiss all charges…”
Hey, one can dream, right?
*Disclaimer: IANAL and I don’t play one on TV either
Writer has obvious no knowledge of indian business approach. even after they kill the prime minister, they will still claim they are working with the government. thats they automatic pr respond.
i been to mustafa, and to link their safety bridge with ntuc is completely bias and dumb. another article that is anti pap but no pro singaporean.
if someone do get burn down at mustafa, TR will once again leap to fire salvo at SCDF for not closing them down.
Don’t know who this writer is but judging by his name, another one of those trying to bend the rules to suit his irk.
Look, asshole, just go to the friggin’ so called departmental store to see how crowded and cramp the whole place is before you write such faeces.
As a matter of fact, all the relevant authorities should have taken action a long long time ago. It is already giving face to this enterpeener who made good, by not doing so for the past few years.
Like someone said, you won’t be so sanguine if you were caught in a fire in the store that feels more like a warehouse. Just compare the layout of this place with other departmental stores like Robinsons, OG or BHG. If others can follow the rules, why can’t you buggers?
Obviously Mustafa is making too much $$, so the gahmen has to find a way to “tax” them!
# Hey Mustafa eh Mooostafa
Obviously you don’t shop. Ask your girlfirend or mummy lor.
During Robinsons, OG & BHG sale, I feel like a packed can of sardine being pushed left, right, front and back by the frenzied crowd.
Same for NTUC during weekends & especially during CNY. Have you tried buying mandarin oranges during the last days before CNY? There are more people swarming around than bees in a hive.
So what’s the dif. bro.?
The difference in case you are blind is that others do it once or twice a year. This mooostafa’s kedai is jam packed, goods stacked to the hilt, EVERYDAY.
And whilst we are discussing this, can TR do a report on why this store is allowed to employ almost All their staff from India??????
Even Mark Lee at his kopitiam is drooling saliva thinking about it.
Double standard law in Singapore so what to say , If this by support of PAP shouldn’t be any problem with U R A Or S C D F ,
The SCDF requirements for fire exits not being blocked by tons of merchandises are clearly out of bounds. In what other countries than Singapore can shoppers not been allow to burn to death in an overcrowded store!!! Vote for opposition, let us burn freely!!!
Mustafa deserved to be fined after it was found guilty of illegally using its six-storey warehouse building in Kallang Pudding Road for retail sales. Looking at the location on Google Maps, which is in the midst of a bunch of warehouses, I find it difficult to imagine how anyone could assume that they could set up a retail business in that location.
I have been a regular of MSC. It is really very crowded all the time. The danger posed to shoppers are real and if something unfortunate was to happen it will lead to great lost of lives. The number of exits and proper directional signs are severely lacking in MSC. If there is a fire breakout and the whole place was to be covered in smoke and lost of power…just imagined the chaos and pushing of shoppers within a confined space. It is a death trap waiting to happen. I believe SCDF and URA had in this instance show urgency to force MSC to act. It has been the same for years and nothing actually been done to improve safety. I shopped there for years and nothing significant had been carried out to improved safety but more was done to ensure shoplifting is reduced.
C’mon lah, anyone who has been to that shop would have seen how cluttered it is. Better do something before someone gets roasted inside. And if that unfortunate event does, happen, please pray that it is not someone you know. Work within regulations and not put anyone at risk just to make a few dollars more.
TR – this article is too slanted.
By the way, why are you fighting for the cause of a multi millionaire businessman? He can very well afford to do so himself. Does TR has no better things to write about?
Again TR stands for “Talk Rubbish”. Go to Mustafa on your own & see if it is a potential fire trap. I have been there a couple of times and there is no improvement in safety. It is just a potential fire hazard.
Should there be a situation where many died in the fire @ Mustafa, touchwood, would your article demands that SCDF be guilty of not enforcing proper safety standards?
Sometimes I think TR articles suck big time. Very soon no readers and no advertisements.
no worries wan lah, mustafa boss seriously rich wan. Business everyday so good, thanks to foreigners etc.
I wonder which was the unidentified competitor that complained/snitched to the authorities about Mustafa’s breaching of laws? NTUC Fairprice? Sheng Siong?
Mustafa is not just a grocery store, it sells plenty of other things including electronic equipment etc, and it also has products that cater to the niche Indian community and tourists.
Anyhow, that’s why entrepreneurship is more or less dead in Singapore. The laws are rigid and not flexible. The govt micro-manages and patronises.
I bet TR is getting money from Mustafas through either advertisements or sponsorship. Given the nature of the quotes, this definitely looks like a seeded article, with inside information. Guess TR is not as altruistic as it claims.
If there was a fire and hundreds of people died, I wonder who TR would blame. The smarter thing for TR to have done is to whack the authorities for taking so long to act! 37 summons and nothing was done? Where is the usual Singapore efficiency? SCDF/URA should answer to that instead!
HELLO what’s wrong with TR and where is the QC?? It’s PATERNALISTIC for goodness sake not patriarchal. And you guys spelt patriarchical wrongly even. Gosh.
Try to recall the great fire of Robinsons during the 70s where unnecessary Singaporeans were killed. See below.
—————–
Robinson’s Department Store fire at Raffles Place
By Tan, Lay Yuen written on 1999-04-17
National Library Board Singapore
Comments on article: InfopediaTalk
Robinson’s Department Store at Raffles Place was destroyed by fire on 21 November 1972, with a loss estimated at over S$14 million. Nine people (eight of them employees of the company) died in the blaze which started at 9:55 am from a short circuit on the first floor of the four-storey building.
Description
As flames razed through the 114-year-old store, there was little time for the 350 employees and another 200 shoppers to escape. Millions of consumer goods for Christmas went up in flames which at one stage leapt up to more than 200 ft (61 m) in the sky and was visible from as far west as Jurong.
Evaluation
A Coroner’s Inquiry into the nine deaths returned a verdict of misadventure. Eight of the nine deaths, the Coroner Mr Yong Yung Sui said on 5 February 1974, could have been saved by the Senior Electrician, Tan Song Chua had he adopted the usual procedure of turning on the main switch and restoring power to the lifts. The eight were trapped in the lifts during the fire while the ninth victim died in the toilet on the second floor.
The fire marked the end of Robinson’s at Raffles Place but it certainly did not mark the end of Robinson’s in Singapore. It is now located at Orchard Road, opposite to the Specialists’ Centre and is the anchor tenant in Centrepoint since 1983.
Robinson’s is now owned by the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Group. On the site of the unfortunate fire now stands the OUB Centre, the tallest building in Singapore.
If SCDF and URA are taking on Mustafa they should also brought in Sheng Siong. Most Sheng Siong stores are very crowded in the weekends and there are no room to push the carts. The aisles are narrow it is difficult to walk through without moving your body from side to side.
Go check out the Sheng siong at Bedok and you will see what I mean. I am waiting to see SCDF and URA have the guts to take on Sheng Siong, without offending the relatives of Lee’s family.
Definitely Mustapha is overpacked and a fire risk. The items on sale are plastics, rubber and other flammable stuff. All it take is a simple short circuit and the place will burst into flames. Like KopitiamApek said a death trap.
Jakarta had a fire raging in such a store before and it was devastating with 100+ deaths.
For fire safety reason I try to avoid Mustapha though I enjoy shopping there.
# Mustafa eh Mooostafa
I think you are the blind one. I go to Mustafa’s in the morning on weekdays & both parking & shopping is a breeze.
OG, Robinson’s, etc once or twice only in a year? Stop lying through your teeth. The sales goes on for days & then they have the card member specials & then the warehouse sales. Bulls**t through your nose won’t get you anywhere.
M/O, though the majority of the staff may be Indians, surprise, surprise, they are mainly S’porean Indians who can’t get a job in Orchard Road, Chinatown & the rest of the malls who hire Chinese first, then Filipinos.
I was talking to a middle-age local Indian and she said that she has no choice but to work at Mustafa’s on 12-hour shifts as she applied & walk-in for over 50 jobs in the town area & not one accepted her. Similarly, the non-Indian staff are middle-aged and elderly whom no one at the great malls employ. I have yet to see a local Indian at OG or Tangs.
Have you been to the Metro at City Square Mall? It is in the heart of Little India with a substantial number of Indian customers & yet not one Indian salesperson face do I see.
Your generalising reflects your shallowness. Just because there are few Chinese employed (mainly because they can & do get jobs elsewhere), you dismiss the rest as foreigners.
It is xenophobics like you that give the rest of us S’poreans a bad name.
@Shophallic,
It seems that you are not only blind but deficient in the sense of smell and feel as well. You can’t even tell whether someone is a foreigner or local. And that cock of a story speaking to a middle aged local. Who are you trying to kid? It appears that most of the commentators have been to the deathtrap. Let them tell you whether the staff are mostly imported foreign “talents” or locals. Most speak a queer slanted kind of English not like the locals who converse mostly in Singlish. I have patronised enough roti prata and curry shops to tell a real genuine local and the fake stuff.
It is foreign trash loving asses like you that we are now in such deep shit.
As for the deathtrap, read the comments again and you will find that most agree that the authorities should have taken a harder line towards the store, long long ago. How in heavens name that they only start to hammer in the screw now is unbelievable.
Face up to the reality will ya? Hiding your shitfull head into the sand is only going to make you an ignorant ostrich.
I still think that TR should make an investigative report on how this store is able to employ an almost all foreign talent staff.
Mustafa’s is indeed a FIRE TRAP.
It sacrifices the SAFETY AND COMFORT of Shoppers and Customers on the Altar of Profits.
It is insidiously arrogant…..I can never forget when the Owner remarked: Why would he want to buy over Robinsons when He can start up several Robinsons himself….He was so arrogant because He was raking in Profits at the expense of the Customers’ SAFETY and COMFORT.
Although Ntuc Fairprice is no Robinsons, or Cold Storage it is CERTAINLY much better than Mustaffa’s.
Maybe Sheng Siong is closer to Mustafa’s….(although of late they have moved away from Mustafa’s Modus Operandi.
In fact I thing SCDF have been extremely PATIENT with Mustafa’s
Why pick on this overcrowding at mustafa when there are so many other situations of overcrowding ?
case in point:
1. PC Show.
2. IT Show.
3. SITEX
4. Other these types of Expo and Conventions?
who dares to say zero communicable diseases have been transmitted in these overcrowded places?
Hurr, you also a foreigner? Trash.
@Bobby Tan
“Maybe Sheng Siong is closer to Mustafa’s….(although of late they have moved away from Mustafa’s Modus Operandi.”
What are you trying to imply here? Sheng Siong should not be questioned? Or you are trying to please your master’s relative?
Here’s a song for Mustafa:-
Mustafa Oh Mustafa;
Mustafa Oh Mustafa;
PAPa Manasu Thulu-thanga
Kadai Mooda Solluthu-thanga
Poddu!
Mustafa Oh Mustafa;
Mustafa Oh Mustafa;
if an accident doesn’t happen. you say the govt is too controlling.
if an accident does happen. you say the govt didn’t do their job properly for not enforcing fire safety.
if its a fire safty violation, you just need a spark to have serious consequences.
TR should find better topics to discuss.
I’m a frequent shopper to Mustafa SC for the convenience of 24-hour etc. But, the place is a death-trap.
If you have not been there before, please try to refrain from dropping unascertained comments here. So that visitors to this site could make better informed decision.
The Authority is doing the right thing! The only thing the Authority has not done ‘right’ is: they should have taken more forceful actions against this place much much earlier.
WARNING: Never bring children to shop at this place for the reasons. Sincerely.
Hurr bro, you got up on the wrong side of the bed??????????????
yeah the palce is crowded,….especially on weekends…
LTA, URA & SCDF should suggest closing the road next to it on weekends.
Yeah Mustafa will make more money, so what…it will make things easier for people. That’s what matters.
yeah the place is crowded,….especially on weekends…
LTA, URA & SCDF should suggest closing the road next to it on weekends.
Yeah Mustafa will make more money, so what…it will make things easier for people. That’s what matters.
prime example of an article that is anti pap but non pro singaporean
On one hand I can say YES Mustafa has a lot to do in terms of Fire Safety.
Secondly, They hire mostly Indians because most of the customers are Indians or people from sub-continent.
How many Indians are employed by Taka, Robinsons, DFS, Isetan, BHG etc etc etc
Excuse me.
‘Patrichal’ is male-dominated.
The word the writer was searching for is ‘paternalistic.’
Want to use long word, go and check dictionary first, can?
Richard Yap,
the issue is about fire safety.
employment issue please wait for another article.
Hello Rich.
We have no objections if they hire mostly Singaporean Indians.
Now, the “mostly” is India Indians and that’s not funny when you think about all our poor Indian brothers or Singaporean uncles and aunties not able to work in Mooostafa because they are asking for a wage a human would be able to live on here. Why must departmental stores hire employees according to whether it’s owned by Indians, Chinese or whatever?
But I am pleased you also know that Mr. Moos must clean up his act in terms of fire safety and crowd control.
Another grouse is that Moostafa treats everyone like a potential thief by using cable ties to tie up the plastic bags when they cash you out so you can’t put additonal stuff into the bags. WTF, they think we are all thieves or wat? So insulting!
Plain & simple, that place is a fire trap except many dont yet know.. if ever there is a fire.. many will be trapped. Correct for authorites to act now. Or risk adversity later.
It not about NTUC or Indians or Sheng Siong or etc etc imaginations. it is about fire safety.
# Hey Mustafa eh Mooostafa
Wah, so much grouse against Mustafa. You working for NTUC, Sheng Shiong, Courts, Tangs or what?
Everything also complain. No need to talk so much. Don’t like, don’t go to Mustafa’s lor.
there is also a group of ppl located in the middle east that blame a party for every single thing that happen, including why it didn’t rain. they blame the USA party.
no price for guessing who these group of ppl are
Because they are not Sheng Siong?
Sigh…. it seems as though every single thing is some major political conspiracy or something….
Never mind about Sheng Shiong or NTUC’s shortcomings. Their shortcomings do NOT absolve Mustafa of their own. Like it or not, Mustafa is a great place to shop, but that place is also a giant firetrap. So what if other places are also firetraps – Ah Huat’s sins do not absolve of Ah Lim or his own sins!
What on earth is this nonsense about ‘patriarchal approaches’ and (I quote) ‘SCDF can jointly work with Mustafa over a planned period of time’? We are talking about basic building safety codes that Mustafa should have adhered to from the very beginning!
If the whole building burnt down tomorrow and hundreds got trapped in that blazing building…..
….I sure would like to see you guys thank the SCDF for ‘taking the time to jointly work with Mustafa’ instead of coming down hard on them for not following basic safety protocol.
Tyna Tan,
When you get caught in the building and your skirt goes up in smoke, you’ll be glad that the vast majority of posters on this thread want tough action to be taken not more pow wow with an already recalcitrant operator.
To the SCDF and all concerned with safety while you guys are talking and talking, the danger is still there. Please do the needful as provided for by law and save all of us from a possible calamity.
And I am not speaking for myself because I ceased to go there anymore. For a few dollars or a few cents of saving, it’s not worth the risks.
Man in Gold
Please read all the posts before shooting off your hips
My response was about Fire Safety and employment of Indians by Mustafa
Wait for your next post now
Nazeem on Sat, 3rd Apr 2010 6:45 pm
Please lah. Go study Economics.
Mustapha does well its good for the economy. Boleh cukai (tax) like in Malaysia where all shopkeepers pay taxes for NEP. Only thing is ALL Singaporeans benefit.
It’s about safety. Remember the great Robinson fire?
Mustapha has nothing to do with the government. Remember the TV advert? OCBC believed in the Indian Muslim guy and loaned him a huge sum of money to start the business.
The rest is history.
i have some unconfirmed news,Mustafa’s second son who is not into family business,co-incidently was london-based forex trader..guess who was his colleage? kenneth jayaratnam.I just got this news,I am not sure,if there is any links……..
—-maybe it is just racial dsicrimmination at play…i don’t know
# Mustafa eh Mooostafa
I think this fine is trivial for him,it would not effect his business in anyway.You are some sick asshole.There are many singaporeon indians are also working there.Most of them are in their 40’s or 50’s.I have even seen some chinese sales promoters on Hi-Fi sets.I just been to mustafa,I have talked to one of the staff.He said they have bought some more property’s nearby and intent to widen area of entrance…..
Last,but not least..mustafa is one very few department stores which the govt make’s millions in gst per month……if you don’t like it don’t go there…it will not effect his business in anyway.
Mustafa eh Mooostafa,
You are indeed crap.I know of a former TCS actress who does mostly comedy skits with david bala and illango work’s as a cashier in the shoes department…you wanna check it out.You seem very biased with mustafa from the start.The crowding problem is not just unique in musasta, but also in many shopping malls on the week-ends.Go to pearl center’s on week-end,you can see china PRC selling toys and stuffs,blocking all the entrace.They just placed it one ground-level and harass the passer-by’s to buy.I am seem almost every week-end’s it seem’s no action has been taken.TR should run story on the malls on singapore (From NTUC,COLD strorage,sheng siong and so on) I am sure there will be violations.Last,but not least I had a friend who actually had a bad fall during a religious process to a temple,the incident left him paralysed left hand.It was very diffcult for him to get a job,mustafa finally hired him as store-hand.He had been working there for 4 years now….
TO
Bodoh on Tue, 6th Apr 2010 7:27 pm
You have stated that OCBC belived an indian muslim guy and loan him a huge sum of money to start a business.wow! you sound like OCBC is a charitable organistation.Try asking them 1k from them,see what they tell u? You have failed to mention,he had place his entire wealth (including his hotels,landed propertys,
in sg and msia) as collateral.
Hey Mustafa eh Mooostaf
AS far,as I know there is no law to enforce on number of singaporeons employed.There are shopping mall’s like GIANT (IMM),their staff are mostly China PRC’s..maybe they are citizens now…I think those indian nationals in mustafa are either singapore PR’s or citizens now.Obtaining citizenship is a breeze.How many singaporeon would like to work 12 hour per day,6 days a week,your offday will be on weekday..your pay is somewhere between 1400-1600…of course the rest of it’s based on sales commision.whatever it is,sales are not going to effected at all.It is business as normal.last,but not least 90% of his revenue from mustafa comes from migrants and tourists…..I have friend who works in jewelary section,singapore indians normally do window-shopping or oogling at the jewelary…anyway,if you don’t like it don’t patronise it.Mustafa is not build in a day.I am sure the founder know’s what to do.of course,safety should not be comprimised at all times.TR should run special reports on all shopping outlets,particulary shengsiong (Taman jurong) every weekend’s it is packed by mynmars and thais….they come to buy the chinese rice-wine which is sold very cheap there.Onse they start drinking…fights does occurs.It is always crowded on week-ends…hopefully TR will shed some light
To mustafa ee moostafa,
If SCDF WERE TO GO AROUND CLOSE DOWN EVERY SHOPPING MALL,I DOUBT WE WILL HAVE INVESTORS COMING IN.THE GOVT WOULD CERTAINLY WOULD NOT LIKE TO CRUCIFY IT’S GOOSE WHICH LIKE’S GOLDEN EGGS (MILLION OF DOLLARS IN GST TAX) I AM SURE AS USUAL THEY WILL FIND A COMPRIMSE.END OF THE DAY,NOBODY CARE’S ABOUT WHAT BLOGGER SAYS (ATLEAST IN SINGAPORE).ANYWAY YOU CAN BARK ALL YOU WANT,I AM SURE MUSTAFFA CARE’S A HOOT ABOUT THIS.I HEAR HE’S OPENING HYPERMART IN JOHOR-BAHRU TOO.
My fellow singaporeons,
It’s best we shop at NTUC outlets,it’s safer and less crowded,mustafa is truly dangerous place to shop.It might catch fire and burnt down.So,rember folk’s shop at your nearest
NTUC outlets
Thank you
My fellow singaporeons, we should be focusing on more pressing issue’s of our state.why are we harping about this isssue? Let’s leave it to the relvant authroties to handle this.It seems some indiviuals on this thread are focusing on attacking “Mustafa store”,Their true intention seem to divert the rest of us from discussing issuse’s which effect our bread and butter.Thus causing some kind of dsiharmony between our online society.Some ethnic group might feel it’s attack on their community.This indiviuals might be planted here,so we would not be discussing anything constructive.I think it’s in our best interest to move forward and focus on how to synergise our effort for oppostions to win more wards….Majula singapura
Actually who is creating the crowd? the gahmen. And yet they blamed Mustafa. All foreigners crowded in the Shopping Centre and did not buy anything. In fact not only at Mustafa. They are many places or shopping Centres over-crowded. But did the gahmen take any action? No. they selectively take action against their rivals. They fined Mustafa because they are jealous of their business? or because they need money badly after the GIC and Temasek Holdings lost billion of our money?? Up to you to guess.
Bro did u see how crowded it was during the wkends, and how narrow their aisles are? if got fire sure either trampled to death or nowhere to run and die. I applaud the govt’s measures in this case.
My fellow singaporeons,
On second thoughts, we should give our full support to Moostafa and shop shop and shop there till we drop.
After all, his business is good business for singapore as it earns much more foreign exchange for us than NTUC which sells mainly to cheapskate singaporeons who wants everything cheap cheap good good.
And SCDF, please also open your eyes to other places which is also dangerous before you fine my good friend Mr. Moostafa. For a start, the CNY bazaar at Chinatown vely dangerous one. Not only cannot walk, cannot even breathe. But very shiok.
I feel that fire safety is upmost importance as human lives are involved. If Mustafa decides to forego the safety of its patrons over petty profits, then i feel you should go elsewhere to spend your weekends. When a real fire occurs, the people would be helplessly trapped and burnt alive in the building. Mustafa would have tons to explained to the public and legal suits will follow.
Kudos to SCDF’s actions! I am sure Mustafa may have blatantly ignored SCDF’s warning on several ocassions to deserve the partial shutdown.
@Hey Mustafa eh Mooostafa
BTW, I assume the CNY Bazaar in Chinatown is considered open air premise. it is more of a crowd control problem than a direct fire safety concern, if fire were to occur, it is not as dangerous as being trapped in an enclosed space with smoke and fire.
I could not agree more,saftey of the patrons should always be given first priority.I hope SCDF’S Fire safety burea should penalise other Malls and organisers of IT show’s (particularly the one which is organised in Expo) as well.In the spirit of fair play, SCDF have the responsibilty of taking stern action against as well.
My advice to TR – please stay focussed on uniting the netizens in understanding issues of national political concerns which have become top priority for our future’s sake. Do not dilute the thinking of our readers with by the way issues like Mustafa.
We need to convince more people about the dangers of continuing to be brainwashed and frightened by the incumbent ruling party. We need focussed analyses and articles on the wrong-doings perpetrated by these self-proclaimed millionare leaders.
Thanks & Best Regards
Baby Boomer
I like to stay relevant to the topic – MSC – is really crowded and MSC is sold to tourist especailly to middle east and south asisa market as shopping paradise – along with orchard.
MSC – is really crowded desptie its extended wings….I only go to MSC on week miday – less crowd and easy to park.
MSC – has it own calling , at least the place is prunned now – can be better, if anyone wants to shop at MSC, go to old building along serangoon – its always not crowded.
MSC – has moral obligation for its customer’s safety , like any cinema hall – to safe passage for its viewer or shoppers, any mishap – the MSC will perish in the tourist market.
Its better for MSC – to comply to rules and regulation with help of any govt agencies. Makes smart business senses.
Well, I believe there is a real concern on safety. I used to shop at Mustafa but enjoy every moment of it. You don’t have to make efforts to integrate with the staff, mostly Indians (I am a local born Chinese). Many can speak local dialect or mandarin. They are friendy, including the Indian customers.
I also patronise the computer show, NATAS show and other expo at Suntec. Over a 3 day period of the respective expo it was so pack you could hardly move – yet they are tolerated. Can anyone assured no fire will ever occur over each 3 day period? Assuming there are 6 such expo a year it represents total of 18 days of risk to lost of lives in case of fire?
Yes, Mustafa needs to be better organised. The threat to lives is also real in those expo in case of fire. Should we regulate those expo to ensure no over-crowding?
oops on Wed, 7th Apr 2010 12:08 am
Bloody ingrate!
Watch the advert censured by Moo himself.
A tattered and torn clothed young man standing beside a gate . . . . sold his idea to OCBC. He literally had nothing.
That’s history.
Replay the ad if you are blind and now listen instead of watching.
not only mustafa , but the entire serangoon area , punggol , senkang , boonkeng too crowded with kelings. the opposition will do well to wack the PAP out of this area and restore the racial balance.
do you know why recently sheng siong is so powerful recently?
do not trust the garmen said about Meritocracy? it is bullshit
there is neoptism practised by lee family.
Wow, each time i stepped into mustapha (and this has not been too many) the place really gave me the creeps. The first couple of times i went in, frankly i got lost when i looked for the exit. The claustrophobic feeling made me want to puke.
The narrow aisles made me want to dash out asap, and i said a little prayer once i found my way to freedom.
But the worst thing were the customers, which everybody can see were mainly the Indians from India. They came in large groups dragging along their babies, prams, maids and entire families, totally immersed in their ununending chatter, oblivious to all other people using the shop.
But try saying ‘excuse me can i cross’, first they will totally ignore; a second ‘excuse me’ will be met with a sullen unearthly stare right into your eyes, and one of them will let you cross with nary a word.
Wow, what a rubbish experience.
But the thing that made my balls shrink was the fact that the the place was packed with merchandise; and on top of that the large crowds of zombies moving slowly, totally blocking you wherever you move.
Harveys Law–if something can go wrong it will definitely; of the various scenarios possible one very one very hellish occurrence i.e a madman or a dissatisfied employee bringing in some imflammable stuff; and we easily going to have 500-1000 barbecued bodies laid along syed alvi rd in bodybags.
The experience of confiscating your belongings when you enter, and tying your bag for a couple of inexpensive goods is the most humiliating experience not seen elsewhere or in a modern country. My God–every where you move you are treated as a potential thief.
What a totally disgusting shopping experience.
By the way, dont think i got anything against these india’s indians (i am also singaporean of indian origin)
I totally encourage the govt to straighten out these criminals, if they dont the papies are never going to recover. The electorate is never going to forgive them for their laxity.
By the way i am a total opposition supporter and i dont give a
damn about the paps; All i want to see them crawling in the gutters during my lifetime.
And the last thing i want to see is the lowly and downtrodden who work there perishing in a hellish inferno
And the papies? do you thing they are going to come to the aid of the common people who work there(if something vile and evil happens there, because imo the place positively exudes an evil aura, because every shopper there seems to me to be in a negative, angry impatient black mood) and their families? With their track record not in a 100years, i think.
@Budamaxx1952 on Sat, 10th Apr 2010 12:40 am
Fully agree with your experience about this place.
You have my vote!
The writer needs to relook at his interpretation of things! The place is a hazard zone! Glad something stern is being done to it!
Enough is Enough
Thanks a lot bro
Another thing i like to mention is the looks on the faces of mustapha staff; lacklustre, depressed, never smiling unhappy faces
the staff are totally blameless; anybody working in such conditions were be depressed and will display lifeless looks througout the working day(12 hrs shifts)
Workers are GEMS; how can you treat gems like this?
Capitalist Bloodsuckers!
Down with them, wherever they are in the world!!
An intresting editorial, can I ask what blog you are using? I have been looking for a nicetheme for quite a while now.